The West Bengal Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Tuesday conducted searches at the Trinamool Congress’s central party office in Kolkata’s Kalighat and at the office of TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Camac Street as part of its investigation into the alleged signature forgery case.The searches came as Abhishek Banerjee skipped a third summons issued by the CID, citing his absence from the city and pending proceedings before the Calcutta High Court.&nbsp;Around 30 CID officers, accompanied by personnel from the Kalighat Police Station and central forces, reached the TMC office at 30B Harish Chatterjee Street in the afternoon. The premises, just adjacent to the residence of TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, also serve as the party’s central office.&nbsp;&nbsp;“In his response, Abhishek Banerjee stated that signatures of MLAs were collected at the party’s central office at 30B Harish Chatterjee Street. Based on that statement, we have come here as part of the investigation,” a CID officer said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hope-pak-is-held-accountable-for-misdeeds-india-condemns-massacre-of-kashmiris-in-pok-1781008180684">‘Hope Pak is held accountable for misdeeds’: India condemns massacre of Kashmiris in PoK</a><h2>CID officers prevented from entering initially, had to wait outside</h2>&nbsp;Sources said CID officers were initially prevented from entering the premises and had to wait outside for nearly an hour. TMC treasurer and former MP Subhasish Chakraborty told the officers that both Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee were in New Delhi and that he could not permit entry without their authorisation.Officers told Chakraborty that he cannot stop them from entering, and the team subsequently went in. The entire process was videographed, and officers were searched before entering the building.The CID officer also searched Abhishek Banerjee’s office on Camac Street after facing initial resistance there as well.&nbsp;Investigators are probing allegations that signatures of several TMC MLAs were forged on a letter sent to Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee, endorsing Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay’s selection as the Leader of Opposition (LoP). Rebel TMC MLAs Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha filed a complaint alleging that a resolution adopted on May 6 was fabricated and that signatures of several legislators on the document were forged.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/federal-judge-rules-trump-s-100-000-fee-for-h-1b-visas-unlawful-strikes-it-down-1780944680172">Federal judge rules Trump’s $100,000 fee for H-1B visas unlawful, strikes it down</a><h2>Investigation was handed over to CID after FIR</h2>&nbsp;After a preliminary inquiry by the Assembly Secretariat, an FIR was registered at Hare Street Police Station and the investigation was subsequently handed over to CID.CID has so far recorded statements of 13 TMC MLAs. Three of them, Baharul Islam, Arup Roy, and Subhasis Das, have reportedly disowned the signatures attributed to them on the document.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-sanctions-irgc-navy-unit-2-iranians-over-crippling-strait-of-hormuz-blockade-1780933198425">EU sanctions IRGC Navy unit, 2 Iranians over crippling Strait of Hormuz blockade</a>&nbsp;Abhishek Banerjee reportedly wrote to CID seeking more time, stating that the matter is pending before the Calcutta High Court and is scheduled to be heard on June 10. He also told investigators that he was in New Delhi for political engagements.&nbsp;He has challenged the CID summons before the Calcutta High Court. His counsel had earlier moved the vacation bench seeking relief against the notices issued by the investigating agency.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Investigators are probing allegations that signatures of several Trinamool Congress MLAs were forged on a letter sent to Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee, endorsing Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay’s selection as the Leader of Opposition (LoP).

The West Bengal Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Tuesday conducted searches at the Trinamool Congress’s central party office in Kolkata’s Kalighat and at the office of TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Camac Street as part of its investigation into the alleged signature forgery case. The searches came as Abhishek Banerjee skipped a third summons issued by the CID, citing his absence from the city and pending proceedings before the Calcutta High Court. Around 30 CID officers, accompanied by personnel from the Kalighat Police Station and central forces, reached the TMC office at 30B Harish Chatterjee Street in the afternoon. The premises, just adjacent to the residence of TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, also serve as the party’s central office. “In his response, Abhishek Banerjee stated that signatures of MLAs were collected at the party’s central office at 30B Harish Chatterjee Street. Based on that statement, we have come here as part of the investigation,” a CID officer said. Also Read: ‘Hope Pak is held accountable for misdeeds’: India condemns massacre of Kashmiris in PoK CID officers prevented from entering initially, had to wait outside Sources said CID officers were initially prevented from entering the premises and had to wait outside for nearly an hour. TMC treasurer and former MP Subhasish Chakraborty told the officers that both Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee were in New Delhi and that he could not permit entry without their authorisation. Officers told Chakraborty that he cannot stop them from entering, and the team subsequently went in. The entire process was videographed, and officers were searched before entering the building. The CID officer also searched Abhishek Banerjee’s office on Camac Street after facing initial resistance there as well. Investigators are probing allegations that signatures of several TMC MLAs were forged on a letter sent to Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee, endorsing Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay’s selection as the Leader of Opposition (LoP). Rebel TMC MLAs Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha filed a complaint alleging that a resolution adopted on May 6 was fabricated and that signatures of several legislators on the document were forged. Also Read: Federal judge rules Trump’s $100,000 fee for H-1B visas unlawful, strikes it down Investigation was handed over to CID after FIR After a preliminary inquiry by the Assembly Secretariat, an FIR was registered at Hare Street Police Station and the investigation was subsequently handed over to CID. CID has so far recorded statements of 13 TMC MLAs. Three of them, Baharul Islam, Arup Roy, and Subhasis Das, have reportedly disowned the signatures attributed to them on the document. Also Read: EU sanctions IRGC Navy unit, 2 Iranians over crippling Strait of Hormuz blockade Abhishek Banerjee reportedly wrote to CID seeking more time, stating that the matter is pending before the Calcutta High Court and is scheduled to be heard on June 10. He also told investigators that he was in New Delhi for political engagements. He has challenged the CID summons before the Calcutta High Court. His counsel had earlier moved the vacation bench seeking relief against the notices issued by the investigating agency.

Investigators are probing allegations that signatures of several Trinamool Congress MLAs were forged on a letter sent to Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee, endorsing Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay’s selection as the Leader of Opposition (LoP).

Forged signature case: CID searches offices of Trinamool Congress and Abhishek Banerjee

Days after the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of West Bengal Police launched a probe into the fake signatures of Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLAs endorsing Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay as the Leader of Opposition -a Cabinet Minister-rank post - in the assembly, the TMC expelled two of its MLAs Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha over alleged anti-party activities on Monday (June 1).&nbsp;A communication signed by Trinamool vice president, Chandrima Bhattacharya, regarding the expulsion of the two MLAs read "After due consideration of the matter, the competent authority of the AITC has decided to expel you from the (primary) membership of the Party with immediate effect."&nbsp;"It is atrocious. The sanctity of the assembly should be maintained," said Ritabrata Banerjee after being expelled from the party.&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/amid-mekedatu-row-with-karnataka-tamil-nadu-cm-vijay-says-no-compromise-on-river-rights-1780320208212">Amid Mekedatu row with Karnataka, Tamil Nadu CM Vijay says 'No compromise on river rights'</a>&nbsp;While expelled leader Sandipan Saha held Banerjee responsible over the case and said, "Submitting the signatures of those who weren't there was a huge blunder. Abhishek Banerjee's name is coming up because he signed the list of MLAs as the General Secretary. That list itself had so many mistakes... Questions will definitely fall on Abhishek Banerjee because it was his responsibility and he failed to fulfil it."<h2>Abhishek Banerjee served summon</h2>&nbsp;Meanwhile, TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee has been served second notice by the CID. Banerjee has been summoned to appear at the CID office at West Bengal Police Headquarters, Bhawani Bhawan, on June 8 (Monday) at 12:00 PM.&nbsp;The action came after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari in a statement said that two Trinamool MLAs had complained over the forgery of their signatures.&nbsp;"Trinamool's corruption did not just target the people of Bengal but also its own MLAs. Trinamool stole its own MLAs' signatures. The complaint was made by two Trinamool MLAs, Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha. We had no role in this," said Adhikari to reporters on Monday.&nbsp;The state Assembly secretariat has filed a complaint at Kolkata’s Hare Street police station and the CID has so far questioned several TMC MLAs, including Nayna Banerjee, Chandranath Sinha, Beleghata Kunal Ghosh and Baharul Islam.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The action came after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari in a statement said that two Trinamool Congress MLAs had complained over the forgery of their signatures.

Days after the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of West Bengal Police launched a probe into the fake signatures of Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLAs endorsing Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay as the Leader of Opposition -a Cabinet Minister-rank post - in the assembly, the TMC expelled two of its MLAs Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha over alleged anti-party activities on Monday (June 1). A communication signed by Trinamool vice president, Chandrima Bhattacharya, regarding the expulsion of the two MLAs read "After due consideration of the matter, the competent authority of the AITC has decided to expel you from the (primary) membership of the Party with immediate effect." "It is atrocious. The sanctity of the assembly should be maintained," said Ritabrata Banerjee after being expelled from the party. ALSO READ: Amid Mekedatu row with Karnataka, Tamil Nadu CM Vijay says 'No compromise on river rights' While expelled leader Sandipan Saha held Banerjee responsible over the case and said, "Submitting the signatures of those who weren't there was a huge blunder. Abhishek Banerjee's name is coming up because he signed the list of MLAs as the General Secretary. That list itself had so many mistakes... Questions will definitely fall on Abhishek Banerjee because it was his responsibility and he failed to fulfil it." Abhishek Banerjee served summon Meanwhile, TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee has been served second notice by the CID. Banerjee has been summoned to appear at the CID office at West Bengal Police Headquarters, Bhawani Bhawan, on June 8 (Monday) at 12:00 PM. The action came after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari in a statement said that two Trinamool MLAs had complained over the forgery of their signatures. "Trinamool's corruption did not just target the people of Bengal but also its own MLAs. Trinamool stole its own MLAs' signatures. The complaint was made by two Trinamool MLAs, Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha. We had no role in this," said Adhikari to reporters on Monday. The state Assembly secretariat has filed a complaint at Kolkata’s Hare Street police station and the CID has so far questioned several TMC MLAs, including Nayna Banerjee, Chandranath Sinha, Beleghata Kunal Ghosh and Baharul Islam.

The action came after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari in a statement said that two Trinamool Congress MLAs had complained over the forgery of their signatures.

Bengal signature row: Trinamool Congress expels 2 MLAs, Abhishek Banerjee served second notice by CID

bengal-signature-row

Bengal Signature Row, News on Bengal Signature Row, stories on Bengal Signature Row, articles on Bengal Signature Row, Bengal Signature Row stories at Wion, Bengal Signature Row news, Bengal Signature Row latest news

bengal signature-row

Forged signature case: CID searches offices of Trinamool Congress and Abhishek Banerjee

Bengal signature row: TMC expels 2 MLAs, Abhishek Banerjee served second notice